Cuba's Foreign Minister blames US sanctions for energy crisis at UN, displays photos
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez on Tuesday accused the United States of worsening Cuba's energy crisis, using photographs during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly to illustrate what he described as the impact of US sanctions on the island.
Responding to remarks by US representative John Kelley Walsh, Rodríguez opened his response with a football analogy before displaying images he said reflected the humanitarian consequences of Washington's policies toward Cuba.
"The truth is that this morning, the team from the United States of America would have deserved a red card," Rodríguez said.
The Cuban foreign minister then held up a photograph of what he said was a hospital operating room in Cuba.
"I want to contribute to Permanent Representative Walsh's photo gallery...This photo is dramatic, Mr President. It is an operating room in which they are using the flashlight of a mobile phone for light. It is due to the energy blockade of the United States of America," he said.
Rodríguez later displayed another image, which he identified as being from a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation, rejecting US criticism of Cuba's human rights record and allegations of arbitrary detentions.
"Mr Walsh has referred to the issue of arbitrary detentions, human rights, repression and others. I want to show this photo. It is not in Cuba, Mr President. It is in the United States of America during an ICE raid," he said.
"ICE detains a small five-year-old child. Child Liam Conejo. Here he is when he is being held by an ICE thug. This did not happen in Cuba."
Rodríguez concluded by saying Cuba would not change its political course under pressure from Washington, defending the country's sovereignty and independence.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
